Pri*va"do (?), n. [Sp., fr. L. privatus. See Private.] A private
friend; a confidential friend; a confidant. [Obs.] Fuller.
Pri"vate (?; 48), a. [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an
individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive,
originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps
originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before.
See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.] 1. Belonging to, or
concerning, an individual person, company, or interest; peculiar to
one's self; unconnected with others; personal; one's own; not public;
not general; separate; as, a man's private opinion; private property; a
private purse; private expenses or interests; a private secretary.
2. Sequestered from company or observation; appropriated to an
individual; secret; secluded; lonely; solitary; as, a private room or
apartment; private prayer.
Reason . . . then retires Into her private cell when nature rests.
Milton.
<! p. 1140 pr=SKB !>
3. Not invested with, or engaged in, public office or employment; as, a
private citizen; private life. Shak.
A private person may arrest a felon.
Blackstone.
4. Not publicly known; not open; secret; as, a private negotiation; a
private understanding.